little rock southwest magnet high school 9715 …little rock southwest is a title i school with 95%...
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Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School
9715 Mabelvale Pike
Mabelvale, AR 72103
Telephone: 501-447-9100
2020-2021 Family & Community Information Packet
Vision Statement
“Inspiring scholars to change the world through community”
Mission Statement
At Little Rock Southwest High Magnet School, we will allow scholars to embrace education
through a limitless exploration of integrated skills, knowledge, and creativity.
GOAL STATEMENT
Cultivation – Committing to building scholar interest in learning that serves as a
foundation for teaching to be successful
Empowerment – Creating a learning atmosphere that fosters an environment that
inspires possibilities and promote creative risk taking
Ownership – Assisting scholars with pursuing their passions and interest so that they will
become architects of their own learning
Each scholar will strive to incorporate the CEO goals as they become the boss of their own
destiny
Home of the Gryphons
Marvin Burton, Principal
Karisa Allmon, Assistant Principal
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At a Glance
Colors: Green, purple and silver
Mascot: Gryphon - mythological creature that combines the head and wings of an eagle with the
body of a lion
Core Values:
Growth Mindset
Knowledge is Power
Kindness is Contagious
Collaborative Culture
Scholar Centered
ALMA MATER
Verse: The purple, green and silver
We shall never falter
For our Alma Mater’s in our heart
Where it shall never part
Chorus: Oh Little Rock Southwest High
We pledge our loyalty
Oh Little Rock Southwest High
Forever victory
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Little Rock Southwest is a Title I School with 95% of the students on Free and Reduced lunch.
We currently have enrolled 1,824 students, grades 9-12, for this upcoming school year.
Family & Community Engagement Committee
o Marvin Burton, Principal
o Tagel Muqtasid, Family/Community Liaison
o Sharon Jackson, Parent Facilitator
o Elena Picado, ESOL Liaison
o Heather Childs, Parent
o Monique Sanders
o Antwain Vernon, Parent
o Kenya Vernon, Parent
o Kelly James, Parent
o Maria Garcia, Parent
o Maria, Garcia-Mendiola, Parent
o Jessica Hill, Parent
o Kimberly Young, Parent
o Kimberly Lee, Community
o Josh Bazyk, Community
o Vicky Hatter, Community
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Jointly Developed Plan
Little Rock Southwest High School (LRSWHS) has developed a diverse Parent, Family, &
Community Engagement Committee made up of school staff, parents, and community
members who will review, update, and make necessary changes to the PF&CE Plan annually.
The committee has been meeting monthly since November 2019 for the 2020-21 school year
to develop a committee, and began working on the PF&CE Plan beginning February 2020.
The committee will continue to meet monthly during the 2020-21 school year from
September-May. The committee will also disseminate assessments and surveys to be sure the
school, parent & family needs are met.
LRSD Parental Policy
The Little Rock School District will support programs, activities and procedures for the
engagement of parents and families in all of its schools with Title I, Part A programs,
consistent with Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Those programs,
activities and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation and
engagement with parents and families of participating children.
The school district will be governed by the following statutory definition of parental and
family engagement, and expects its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities and
procedures in accordance with this definition:
Parent and family engagement means the participation of parents and families in regular, two-
way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school
activities.
Annual Title I Meeting
Our school will conduct an Annual Title I Meeting in September 2020 for the parents of our
students separate from any other meeting or activity to ensure that parents have ample time to
be informed about their rights as parents under Title I and the schools participation
requirements as a Title I school.
The school shall submit evidence of the Title I meeting by completing the LRSD Annual Title
I Verification Form and submitting to the Title I Office by November 2020. During the
Annual Title I meeting, parents will have the opportunity to view and receive a copy of the
2020-2021 Parent and Family Engagement Information Packet.
Communications
The Family & Community Engagement Plan (FACE) will be distributed to parents and
families by way of hard copies that will be located in our Parent Center and Main Office.
We will also distribute plans electronically via our District’s website (www.lrsd.org) and at
our parent and family events. Our plan will be available in English and Spanish, due to the
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fact that approximately 25% of our students will be Hispanic, and in a language that our
parents, family, and community can understand. In our plan there will be information about
parent and family engagement events, Parent-Teacher Conference dates, learning
opportunities for parents and families, ways to volunteer and stay engaged, contact
information for our Parent Facilitator and Parent Coordinator, and office hours. We will
include an annual survey and signature page for parents and families to sign upon receiving
a copy of the plan. The surveys and signature page can be turned in to the Parent Center by
way of mail, electronically, and in-person. The FACE Plan will also offer various meeting
times and formats. We understand that it can be difficult for everyone to attend in-person
meetings and events and due to the COVID-19 Pandemic there are restrictions on the
number of people who can gather together. We will offer online meeting options in both
English and Spanish by way of Zoom and pre-recorded videos via social media and our
website. Our Bilingual staff will be available to help our Spanish-speaking families at
meetings and events, during office hours, and anytime we communicate with our parents
and families. Our school will communicate with parents and families by way of various two
way communications:
Parent Link (phone calls, text, email, app)
YouTube
Zoom
Google Hangouts
Remind App
District’s Website
Newsletters, Flyers, and other correspondences
Univision & Telemundo (Partners)
In light of recent events surrounding COVID-19 our school has taken the initiative to create
a Ready for Learning Packet which will be distributed to parents and families and the
community. This packet includes information measures taken to ensure the safety and well-
being of staff, teachers, and students. Health and safety of everyone who walks through our
doors will be our top priority. We understand that your student is your number one concern
and we as are each and every one of our families are our main concern. We will offer various
virtual experiences for you and your family to take part in so that you don’t miss out on any
opportunity or important information. Our goal is to keep all of our families engaged in their
student’s academic success. We will offer our virtual experience by way of social media,
video conferencing, and our website. This packet will be distributed in both English and
Spanish via our schools website, www.LRSD.org, and through email. We will also make sure
to have copies available at our school.
Listed below are some activities, events, and programs, but not be limited to, we will offer to
our families:
Open House-Virtual (COVID-19) (August-September 2020)
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9th Grade Academy Parent Meeting (August-September 2020)
High Reliability School Parent Video-Conferencing Meeting (September 2020)
Title I Meeting (September-October 2020)
ViPS (volunteer) Training (September 2020)
Fall Parent Tailgate (September-November 2020)
College, Career, & Post-Secondary Transition Workshop (October-November 2020)
Senior Meeting (October-November 2020)
Math and Literacy (October-November 2020)
Recruitment Open House (October-November 2020)
Technology Workshop (October-December 2020)
Family Literacy Event (October-December 2020)
Fair Science Fair Event (October-December 2020)
Winter Tailgate (November-February 2020-2021)
AVID Meeting (January-February 2021)
Gaming & Social Emotional Learning Event (January-February 2021)
Language Learning Classes (January-March 2021)
Parents Role in Student Success Workshop (February 2021)
Technology Workshop (January-March 2021)
Cooking & Eating on a Budget Class (March-April 2021)
Father-Son Luncheon (Importance of Father’s) (April 2021)
Mother-Daughter Luncheon (May 2021)
School Parent Compact
The School-Parent Compact will specifically state the responsibilities parents, students, and
school staff and administrators will do to improve student academic achievement and
commitment from each level. LR Southwest High School (LRSW) will disseminate the
information to all parents and families to ensure that every compact is signed. LRSW will
distribute the School-Parent contract to parents and families during Open House, the first
week of school, and make available on the school’s website, as well have copies available in
the Parent Center and in the main office. The committee, which includes students, parents,
staff, & teachers, have had an input in sharing ideas and thoughts on the responsibilities each
party will partake in. We have done focus groups for each group mentioned above to develop
a compact that all parties are satisfied and content with sharing with others. The goal of all
stakeholders is to build a partnership between families and the school to ensure the best
academic standards for all students are met. There will be a volunteer resource list to be used
in efforts to support families with their student’s academic success as well as encourage
families to volunteer as much as possible to assist with efforts also. All parties believe
effective two-way communication is important and key for this to work. There will be two
scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences each school year, one in the Fall and the other in the
Winter. There will be progress reports available to parents and students every quarter as well
the opportunity for teachers, parents, students, and staff to set up meetings as deemed
necessary by all stakeholders. Teachers and staff will make themselves available to parents
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and families as will parents to teachers. Parents and families will have the opportunity to
observe classroom instruction via virtual, due to COVID-19, and in-person, following
guidelines set by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and AR Health Department. This
compact can be found on pages 9-10.
Reservation of Funds
During our Annual Title I meeting LR Southwest will inform parents of the Title I Funds
allocated for the school and get from parents and families their thoughts and ideas on how
they would like to see funds spent as it relates to parent and family engagement. The Little
Rock School District received more than $500,000 in funding for Title I, Part A and of those
funds that the District receives, LR Southwest High School will receive 1% of those funds.
These funds are used to help promote parent and family engagement in the school and in the
home.
Coordination of Services
LR Southwest High School has adopted a new model for student education, called Ford Next
Generation Learning (Ford NGL). This model will change the way students learn, how
teachers teach, and will engage the help of the community. Ford NGL encompasses education
by way of utilizing the community to support student learning so that students can connect
learning with career education. Our school will have community resource list that will connect
specific community partners with student’s interest which helps to supports families in their
efforts to support their children academically. Our Parent Center will be equipped with
resources, programs, activities, and strategies that will support parents and families
understanding of college and career readiness opportunities all the while keeping them
inspired to remain fully engaged in the students’ academic goals. We will collaborate with
our community partners to integrate programs and activities that promote positive parenting,
financial literacy, paying for college (scholarships, grants, financial assistance), and college
and career readiness workshops, and many other programs.
Our school is committed to having a functional and engaged Parent Teacher Association
(PTA) that will help support parents and students in their overall academic objectives. PTA
will provide opportunities for families to be engaged in school-related activities and keep
families informed on ways to stay connected with the school. This PTA will consist of parents,
teachers, and community members, some of which are alumni from McClellan High School
and J.A. Fair High School (the two schools that make up LR Southwest High).
LRSW is a member of Johns Hopkins University National Network of Partnership Schools
(NNPS). The NNPS School, Family and Community Partnership family model is designed to
enhance parent participation and involvement in the school and community. The family model
is researched based and references engagement, activities, and resources for the six types of
involvement: Parenting, Communicating, Volunteering, Student Learning, Decision-Making
and Collaborating with the Community. To support the six types of involvement, LRSW
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participates on the LRSD NNPS Southwest School Cluster Team. Contact Person: Tagel
Muqtasid, [email protected].
Building Capacity of Parents
LRSW will conduct two (2) state mandated Parent-Teacher Conferences per school year, one
per semester, with every parent of every student. Parents will receive test scores, student’s
progress, and a summary of interventions being used to assist the student in reaching his/her
academic goals.
There will be various workshops, programs, and activities for families to take part in that
support and increase parents and families awareness in test scores, academic standards,
understanding of assessments and results, positive parenting, strategies to support student
learning, resources available to help families with student learning at home, course selection,
career planning, and ways to prepare for life after college.
We will provide regularly scheduled Family & Community Engagement (FACE) meetings
offered at various times and locations to accommodate parents and family’s availability, and
also via different formats such as in-person, video conferencing, and social media as well as
in English and in Spanish. LRSW understands that its school is made up of different ethnic
backgrounds and many different cultures. We aim to ensure we are culturally diverse in how
we communicate with our parents and families and community and in our offerings of
programs and activities.
Building Capacity of School Staff
LRSW will conduct two (2) state mandated Parent-Teacher Conferences per school year, one
per semester, with every parent of every student. Parents will receive test scores, student’s
progress, and a summary of interventions being used to assist the student in reaching his/her
academic goals.
LRSW will make sure to follow the state guidelines on providing staff development.
NOTE: STATE LAW FOR THE NUMBER OF HOURS CHANGED A FEW YEARS AGO
TO TWO (2) HOURS PER EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR. HOWEVER,
FEDERAL LAWS STATES THAT PD IS ONGOING. The State Board of Education’s
Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts shall require no
fewer than two (2) hours of professional development for teachers, designed to enhance their
understanding of effective parent and family engagement strategies. No fewer than three (2)
hours of professional development for administrators designed to enhance their understanding
of effective parent and family engagement strategies and the importance of administrative
leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental and family
participation.
We will offer a minimum of 2 opportunities for Professional Development to teachers during
this school year.
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It is also our goal to make sure families feel welcomed when they enter into our building. Our
teachers and staff will be provided with Professional Development on Customer Service and
ways to create a welcoming environment. As partners with our school, parents will have the
opportunity to support their students learning by building relationships with their child’s
teacher and working with your child’s teacher to ensure the best methods are being used to
support how your child learns and to ensure the needs of your child are being met.
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School-Parent Compact
Parent-Guardian Agreement
I want my child to achieve and succeed in all of their academic goals. Therefore, I will
encourage and support him/her by doing the following:
Provide a quiet and well lit study area
Make sure my child attends school regularly and is on time
Keep open communication with my child’s teachers; build a partnership
Make sure the school has updated contact information
Establish study habits and times
Support and encourage my child’s academic goals and accomplishments
Be available and engaged in my child’s academic learning process
________________________________________________________________
Student Agreement
It is important that I work to the best of my ability. Therefore, I will commit to do the
following:
Attend school and all classes regularly
Attend school and classes on time
Complete homework assignments on time and commit to complete missed
assignments
Come to classes prepared and ready to learn
Respect administrators, teachers, staff, and peers
Establish good study habits and a study time
________________________________________________________________
Teacher Agreement
It is important to me that all students have the opportunity to achieve greatness. Therefore, I
will do the following:
Create and implement engaging lessons
Provide appropriate and meaningful homework assignments
Come to class prepared to teach
Provide timely feedback and sufficient turnaround time for assigned work
Engage in effective two-communication with students and parents
Be respectful to students, parents, and colleagues
________________________________________________________________
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Principal Agreement
I support positive parent engagement. Therefore, I will commit to do the following:
Provide an environment that allows for positive communication between parents,
teachers, and students
Ensure teachers provide assigned homework that will reinforce classroom instruction
consistently
Ensure high-quality curriculum and instruction that meets the state’s student academic
achievement
Engage parents in parent-teacher conferences, which supports student’s success
Ensure that parents receive frequent reports on their child’s progress
Ensure parental access to staff that will support partnerships between home and school
Provide parents opportunities to volunteer and observe classroom activities and
instruction
________________________________________________________________
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Six Types of Involvement:
Keys to Successful Partnerships
TYPE 1
Parenting
Assist families with parenting skills and setting home conditions to support children
as students. Also, assist schools to better understand families.
TYPE 2
Communicating
Conduct effective communications from school-to-home and from home-to-school
about school programs and student progress.
TYPE 3
Volunteering
Organize volunteers and audiences to support the school and students. Provide
volunteer opportunities in various locations and at various times.
TYPE 4
Learning at Home
Involve families with their children on homework and other curriculum-related
activities and decisions.
TYPE 5
Decision Making
Include families as participants in school decisions, and develop parent leaders and
representatives.
TYPE 6
Collaborating with the Community
Coordinate resources and services from the community for families, students, and
the school, and provide services to the community.
Epstein, et. al. 2002. School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for
Action, Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc.
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LRSD Parental Policy
The Little Rock School District will support programs, activities and procedures for the
engagement of parents and families in all of its schools with Title I, Part A programs,
consistent with Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Those
programs, activities and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful
consultation and engagement with parents and families of participating children.
The school district will be governed by the following statutory definition of parental and
family engagement, and expects its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities and
procedures in accordance with this definition:
Parent and family engagement means the participation of parents and families in regular,
two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other
school activities, including ensuring —
(A) That parents and families play an integral role in assisting their child’s
learning;
(B) That parents and families are encouraged to be actively involved in their
child’s education at school;
(C) That parents and families are full partners in their child’s education and are
included, as appropriate, decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the
education of their child; and
(D) The carrying out of other activities, such as those described in Section 1116 of the
ESSA.
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Little Rock Southwest High School
Right To Know Letter
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Our school, Little Rock Southwest High School, receives federal funds for Title I, Part A
programs. Throughout the school year, we will be providing you with important information
about this law as it relates to your child’s education. This letter lets you know about your right to
request information regarding the professional qualifications of the classroom staff working with
your child. Our district or school will be able to provide you with the following information
regarding the qualifications of your child’s teacher(s):
1. Whether the teacher meets the states qualifications and licensing criteria for the
grades and subjects he/she teaches.
2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status because of
special circumstances.
3. Whether the teacher is teaching has any advanced degrees and the field of discipline
of the teacher’s certification or degree.
If at any time your student has been taught for four (4) or more consecutive weeks by a
teacher(s) that is not highly qualified, then you will be notified by the school.
You will also have the right to request information regarding the qualifications of the
paraprofessional(s) assisting your child’s teacher(s). If your child is receiving Title I, Part A
services from a paraprofessional, then our district or school is able to provide you with the
following information:
1. Whether the paraprofessional has completed at least two years of study at an
institution of higher education.
2. Whether the paraprofessional has completed an associate’s degree (or higher).
3. Whether the paraprofessional has met a rigorous standard of quality through our
state’s certification procedure for determining the quality of paraprofessional staff.
4. Whether the paraprofessional has: (a) the knowledge or ability to assist in instructing
reading, writing, and mathematics or (b) the knowledge of and the ability to assist in
learning activities, such as homework, reading readiness, writing, mathematics, and
other support as appropriate.
To request this information please contact your child’s school by phone at 501-447-9100.
Should you have any other additional questions regarding your child’s education, please do not
hesitate to contact us at the number listed above.
Sincerely,
Marvin Burton
Principal, Little Rock Southwest High School
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Parent Survey- 2020-21
Little Rock Southwest High School
Parent’s First & Last Name
_____________________________________
______________________________________
For the following questions please circle the best answer(s).
1. What classes would you like to see offered through our Family & Community
Engagement?
A) Financial assistance-student’s college
B) English Class (Spanish speakers)
C) Spanish Class (English speakers)
D) Preparing for life after high school
E) Communication-How to communicated with your teenager?
2. What ways would you be interested in volunteering at LR Southwest?
A) Field Trips
B) Hallway Monitoring
C) Classroom Assistance
D) Clerical/Office
E) Special Events
F) Other ________________
3. What times are you available to volunteer?
A) Morning
B) Lunch
C) Evening
4. How would you like to be notified of meetings, events, and workshops?
A) Flyer
B) Text
C) Email
D) Social media
5. What would prevent you from attending a school meeting or function?
A) Childcare
B) Transportation
C) If a function (meeting/activity) was offered in the morning
D) If a function (meeting/activity) was offered in the evening